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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in New York, 2026

Ilion is the most affordable ranked town in New York. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

341
Towns ranked in New York.
Ilion
Number 1 in New York. Rent is 13.3% of income. National rank 3112.
19.9%
Median rent share among ranked towns in New York.
0
Ranked New York towns in the national top 100.
Manorhaven
Least affordable ranked town in New York. Rent is 35.9% of income. National rank 6659.

Gasoline

$4.487

per gallon. EIA publishes this state price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,153.76 a year for every ranked town in New York.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: New York." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/new-york

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Top 25

  1. #1 in New York · National #3112

    Ilion

    Rent share 13.3% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.449

    Median rent is $694 a month and median income is $62,843, so rent is 13.3% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Utica-Rome, NY metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in New York · National #3337

    Endwell

    Rent share 13.3% · Price level 92.9 · Score 0.464

    Median rent is $919 a month and median income is $82,726, so rent is 13.3% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Binghamton, NY metro price level is 92.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #3 in New York · National #3690

    Hamburg

    Rent share 11.7% · Price level 95.8 · Score 0.493

    Median rent is $1,097 a month and median income is $112,292, so rent is 11.7% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro price level is 95.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in New York · National #3736

    De Witt

    Rent share 11.4% · Price level 95.7 · Score 0.497

    Median rent is $1,172 a month and median income is $123,864, so rent is 11.4% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Syracuse, NY metro price level is 95.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in New York · National #3746

    Gananda

    Rent share 11.2% · Price level 97.0 · Score 0.498

    Median rent is $1,027 a month and median income is $109,761, so rent is 11.2% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Rochester, NY metro price level is 97.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #6 in New York · National #3932

    Geneva

    Rent share 14.7% · Price level 97.0 · Score 0.513

    Median rent is $972 a month and median income is $79,435, so rent is 14.7% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Rochester, NY metro price level is 97.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #7 in New York · National #3976

    Eggertsville

    Rent share 12.8% · Price level 95.8 · Score 0.517

    Median rent is $886 a month and median income is $82,767, so rent is 12.8% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro price level is 95.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in New York · National #3992

    Fairport

    Rent share 13.1% · Price level 97.0 · Score 0.518

    Median rent is $1,165 a month and median income is $107,009, so rent is 13.1% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Rochester, NY metro price level is 97.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #9 in New York · National #4125

    East Aurora

    Rent share 13.8% · Price level 95.8 · Score 0.530

    Median rent is $1,196 a month and median income is $103,949, so rent is 13.8% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro price level is 95.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #10 in New York · National #4128

    South Lockport

    Rent share 15.2% · Price level 95.8 · Score 0.530

    Median rent is $711 a month and median income is $56,166, so rent is 15.2% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro price level is 95.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  11. #11 in New York · National #4171

    Rome

    Rent share 18.2% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.535

    Median rent is $909 a month and median income is $59,925, so rent is 18.2% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Utica-Rome, NY metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  12. #12 in New York · National #4173

    Country Knolls

    Rent share 10.0% · Price level 99.6 · Score 0.535

    Median rent is $1,196 a month and median income is $143,036, so rent is 10.0% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro price level is 99.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in New York · National #4193

    North Syracuse

    Rent share 16.8% · Price level 95.7 · Score 0.537

    Median rent is $995 a month and median income is $71,026, so rent is 16.8% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Syracuse, NY metro price level is 95.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  14. #14 in New York · National #4213

    Radisson

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 95.7 · Score 0.539

    Median rent is $1,110 a month and median income is $89,297, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Syracuse, NY metro price level is 95.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in New York · National #4276

    Hampton Manor

    Rent share 14.5% · Price level 99.6 · Score 0.544

    Median rent is $1,188 a month and median income is $98,364, so rent is 14.5% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro price level is 99.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  16. #16 in New York · National #4294

    Kenmore

    Rent share 16.7% · Price level 95.8 · Score 0.546

    Median rent is $1,081 a month and median income is $77,639, so rent is 16.7% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro price level is 95.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in New York · National #4300

    West Glens Falls

    Rent share 17.3% · Price level 94.9 · Score 0.547

    Median rent is $1,343 a month and median income is $93,239, so rent is 17.3% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Glens Falls, NY metro price level is 94.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  18. #18 in New York · National #4332

    Hudson Falls

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 94.9 · Score 0.549

    Median rent is $927 a month and median income is $62,969, so rent is 17.7% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Glens Falls, NY metro price level is 94.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  19. #19 in New York · National #4338

    Niskayuna

    Rent share 14.2% · Price level 99.6 · Score 0.550

    Median rent is $1,589 a month and median income is $134,052, so rent is 14.2% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro price level is 99.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  20. #20 in New York · National #4342

    Brockport

    Rent share 17.1% · Price level 97.0 · Score 0.550

    Median rent is $995 a month and median income is $69,866, so rent is 17.1% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Rochester, NY metro price level is 97.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  21. #21 in New York · National #4348

    Ballston Spa

    Rent share 13.2% · Price level 99.6 · Score 0.551

    Median rent is $1,122 a month and median income is $101,667, so rent is 13.2% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro price level is 99.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  22. #22 in New York · National #4365

    West Seneca

    Rent share 16.7% · Price level 95.8 · Score 0.551

    Median rent is $1,106 a month and median income is $79,709, so rent is 16.7% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro price level is 95.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  23. #23 in New York · National #4379

    Hilton

    Rent share 17.3% · Price level 97.0 · Score 0.553

    Median rent is $1,262 a month and median income is $87,377, so rent is 17.3% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Rochester, NY metro price level is 97.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  24. #24 in New York · National #4386

    North Tonawanda

    Rent share 16.7% · Price level 95.8 · Score 0.553

    Median rent is $934 a month and median income is $66,961, so rent is 16.7% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro price level is 95.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  25. #25 in New York · National #4410

    Tonawanda Town

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 95.8 · Score 0.555

    Median rent is $1,102 a month and median income is $77,679, so rent is 17.0% of income, under the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro price level is 95.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #341 in New York · National #6659

    Manorhaven

    Rent share 35.9% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.876

    Median rent is $3,153 a month and median income is $105,486, so rent is 35.9% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #340 in New York · National #6653

    Spring Valley

    Rent share 35.6% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.873

    Median rent is $1,695 a month and median income is $57,196, so rent is 35.6% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #339 in New York · National #6647

    Monsey

    Rent share 47.7% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.871

    Median rent is $1,892 a month and median income is $47,629, so rent is 47.7% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #338 in New York · National #6642

    Haverstraw

    Rent share 33.7% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.870

    Median rent is $2,114 a month and median income is $75,167, so rent is 33.7% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #337 in New York · National #6636

    North Bellport

    Rent share 35.8% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.868

    Median rent is $2,991 a month and median income is $100,247, so rent is 35.8% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #336 in New York · National #6635

    Ridge

    Rent share 31.2% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.868

    Median rent is $2,044 a month and median income is $78,528, so rent is 31.2% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #335 in New York · National #6632

    East Quogue

    Rent share 29.8% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.867

    Median rent is $2,327 a month and median income is $93,710, so rent is 29.8% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #334 in New York · National #6627

    Flanders

    Rent share 31.4% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.866

    Median rent is $2,311 a month and median income is $88,393, so rent is 31.4% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #333 in New York · National #6623

    Yaphank

    Rent share 32.8% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.865

    Median rent is $2,976 a month and median income is $108,971, so rent is 32.8% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #332 in New York · National #6622

    Great Neck Plaza

    Rent share 31.7% · Price level 112.6 · Score 0.865

    Median rent is $2,446 a month and median income is $92,474, so rent is 31.7% of income, over the 19.9% median for ranked towns in New York. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro price level is 112.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 29.90 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.487 a gallon (New York). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in New York in this index?

Ilion is number 1 of 341 ranked towns in New York. Median rent is 13.3% of median income. Its national rank is 3112.

How many towns in New York were ranked?

341 towns in New York have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in New York?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.